The Broken Halo

Simon had already expected such a scenario.

From the moment he decided to return to Velmora as Blackmoon, he knew the Eastern Faction would eventually connect his identity to the Outsider. The timing was too suspicious, the coincidences too numerous, and the Voice and the Second Claw were not foolish enough to ignore them forever.

The Second Claw had merely reached the conclusion a little bit faster than he expected.

As for the Blackmoon currently inside Pipeline Inn, Simon had prepared that piece for an entirely different audience.

The demon beneath Blackmoon’s borrowed face was the same one Simon had once used to perform the dead drop in the Old Bell Quarter. The demon he had saved from being killed.

Simon had not placed him inside Pipeline Inn to fool the Voice or the Second Claw.

He had placed him there for Black Horn.

Korran’s operatives, the city guards, and every hidden observer watching Pipeline Inn needed to believe that Blackmoon remained inside his room while this meeting took place. If Red Sand Hall later became connected to the Eastern Faction, there would be no simple trail leading back to Simon.

The Second Claw discovering the false Blackmoon changed nothing important.

If anything, it showed Simon exactly how thoroughly the Eastern Faction had begun investigating him.

A faint smile appeared on the face he currently wore.

”Impressive,” he said. ”Your deductions are better than most.”

The Voice’s eyes narrowed.

”So are you finally confessing that you’re Blackmoon?”

”I don’t think I ever said that.”

The Second Claw’s borrowed amber eyes glinted with amusement.

Simon looked between them.

”You are asking me to reveal my true face while both of you continue wearing disguises. That hardly seems fair.”

The Voice finally lost some of her restraint.

”Fair?”

Her tone sharpened, and the killing intent she had been suppressing became slightly more obvious.

”You forced both of us to come here because you held the road’s bones. That gave you the advantage.”

She placed one hand against the low table.

”Now, we possess the advantage. Remove your disguise, or everything we know about Blackmoon, the Outsider, and your involvement in our operations will reach Black Horn and Velmora before this night ends.”

Simon studied her face for a moment.

”So this is what you look like whenever you threaten me.”

The Voice’s expression darkened, and the Second Claw laughed softly.

”Master, this is not amusing.”

”It is actually little bit amusing.”

The Second Claw turned toward Simon, although the smile remained on her lips.

”She is telling the truth. Refuse, and we expose Blackmoon, the Outsider, and every suspicious connection between them.”

Simon’s expression remained calm.

”Then do it.”

The Voice blinked in surprise, and even the Second Claw’s smile weakened slightly.

They had not expected such a response from Simon.

Simon folded his arms.

”Send everything to Korran. Tell Tarvak. Shout it from the public arena if you prefer.”

His voice remained indifferent.

”There is a reason Korran has suspected me for a long time and still has not acted.”

The Second Claw’s gaze became sharper and solemn the moment she heard his words. Several possibilities immediately entered her mind at the same time.

Did Blackmoon possess protection within Black Horn?

Was Korran afraid of his hidden background?

Had Blackmoon arranged for information to be released if he was captured?

Does Blackmoon have something on Korran that prevents him from taking action?

Or did Blackmoon possess enough strength that Korran could not move against him safely?

Simon offered no explanation despite their thoughtful expressions.

He allowed the questions to grow for a few seconds, then he gestured toward their faces.

”If you want confirmation, make the exchange equal. Show me who I am negotiating with, and I will show you mine.”

The Voice looked toward the Second Claw.

The taller demoness watched Simon for several quiet breaths before nodding.

”Agreed.”

Simon’s face began to change.

He did not remove the Sword Daemon’s mask.

The matte-black artifact remained fused to his face beneath the flesh it created. At the same time, Simon released the secondary disguise concealing the rest of his head.

Dark-grey hair returned to pure white. The two false horns dissolved, leaving the single horn on the right side of his head, while the Sword Daemon’s mask reshaped the face beneath them.

A moment later, Blackmoon stood before the two demonesses.

White hair.

Sky-blue vertical pupils.

And a black broken ring around his pupils.

The Voice’s eyes flickered with a surprised light for a moment as she stared at Simon.

Although, she was almost a hundred percent certain that the Outsider was Blackmoon. Seeing the transformation happen before her was different.

The Second Claw’s reaction was quieter, and a suspicious light flashed in her eyes as she studied every detail of Simon’s face.

”What did you use to change your face? Is it an artifact?” she asked. ”A bloodline ability? Or a technique? How do I know you’re not simply copying Blackmoon’s face?”

Simon’s lips curved slightly.

”I am not obligated to reveal that.”

Before the Second Claw could respond, his face changed again.

The light-grey face of the Voice’s current disguise appeared first.

Then the reddish-brown face of the Second Claw’s disguise replaced it.

Before either demoness could react, Simon became the Fifth Needle.

A heartbeat later, he wore the face of the dead carrier.

Then Korran stared at them.

Then Guard Commander Tarvak.

Finally, Simon returned to Blackmoon.

Every change was extremely fast and nearly instant.

There was no imperfect skin, misplaced scar, or difference around the eyes.

And this made the expressions of both demonesses to become solemn.

Why?

Because average and ordinary face-altering artifacts could only transform into one face. Higher graded ones might be able to change into four or five different faces, but each transformation required time, and small imperfections almost always remained.

What Simon had shown was different, and this made them to believe that it was most likely not an artifact.

Was it a bloodline ability?

Or a high-level transformation technique?

Neither could think of a race or technique capable of copying so many faces with such speed and precision.

Simon looked at them calmly.

”I can become anybody at any time.”

He touched the side of Blackmoon’s face.

”Blackmoon is merely one of the identities I use most often.”

The Second Claw’s eyes narrowed.

”And the Blackmoon inside Pipeline Inn?”

Simon smiled.

”You have already received more answers than you need.”

The Voice looked ready to argue, but the Second Claw raised one hand. She snapped her fingers, then both disguises began to disappear.

The shorter demoness changed first.

Her skin became warm bronze-red, while long dark-brown hair fell over one shoulder and reached her lower back. Two smooth black horns curved backward from her temples, and her eyes became amber with narrow vertical pupils.

The Voice was beautiful, although the irritation in her expression remained far more noticeable to Simon.

The Second Claw’s transformation followed.

Her skin deepened into a smooth wine-red. Long black hair fell in heavy waves around a beautiful face with soft lips, high cheekbones, and half-lidded golden eyes. Two polished horns curved outward before sweeping to the back with faint gold rings circling their bases.

Simon’s gaze briefly rested on both faces, then he gestured toward the chairs beside the low table.

His smile returned.

”Please have a seat.”

The Voice remained wary and annoyed, while the Second Claw’s golden eyes held open curiosity.

Simon sat first.

”We have a great deal to discuss.”